US3581863A - Business machine printer ribbon automatic inking device - Google Patents

Business machine printer ribbon automatic inking device Download PDF

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US3581863A
US3581863A US749200A US3581863DA US3581863A US 3581863 A US3581863 A US 3581863A US 749200 A US749200 A US 749200A US 3581863D A US3581863D A US 3581863DA US 3581863 A US3581863 A US 3581863A
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ink
roller
ribbon
inking
contact
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US749200A
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Andre F A Lottiau
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NCR Voyix Corp
National Cash Register Co
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NCR Corp
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J31/00Ink ribbons; Renovating or testing ink ribbons
    • B41J31/14Renovating or testing ink ribbons
    • B41J31/16Renovating or testing ink ribbons while fitted in the machine using the ink ribbons

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  • ABSTRACT An ink-metering roll regularly shifted during each cycle of a business machine from an associated ribboninking roll to an associated ink supply and thence back to said inking roll for transferring a predetermined amount of ink from such supply to a printing mechanism ribbon associated for advancement with the rotation of said inking roll.
  • the ink supply is arranged for dispensing a precise amount of ink to several peripheral zones on said metering roll when moved thereagainst
  • the metering roll is arranged for friction rotation with the inking roll during machine cycling
  • the metering roll is longitudinally grooved for distributing the ink so dispensed thereon equally therealong and onto said ribbon-inking roll during the time of rotation thereof.
  • Werner et al. mechanism providing continuous engagement of an ink-metering roll with an associated ink reservoir wick member, which metering roll, as well as ink reservoir, may be further mounted for shifting movement to manually present the metering roll as so continually inked by the associated wick to or from engagement with the associated machine ribbon per se or with an intervening ink distribution roll. While some control over ribbon inking is present with such latter device-capable of being manually set for either fixed on or off operation, frequent and time-consuming attention to such type of ribbon-inking device is a must to the prevention of overinking of the ribbon in one instance and, just as bad with respect to acceptable print laydown for optical reader purposes, underinktfig of the ribbon in another instance. f
  • the present invention makes use of what might be termed a stamp pad principle of precisely timed intermittent engagement therebetween; i.e., of automatic shifting of such ink transfer means back and forth between the associated ink supply means and ribbon-engaging inking means (felt roll, etc.) for intermittent transfer of ink thereby from such supply means for to such ribbon-engaging inking means.
  • Still a further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an ink transfer means in the form of a serrated metering roller as opposed to heretofore-used smooth such rollers, resulting in ink distribution along and by the metering roller rather than relying solely upon the associated felt inking roll for such.
  • FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the ribbon-inking mechanism making up the present invention as incorporated with the framework construction of a cash register or similar business machine;
  • FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the ribbon-inking mechanism of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of cam means regularly operated during each business machine cycle of operation for actuating the ribbon-inking mechanism thereduring, such cam means being shown in operated position.
  • the invention includes an ink ribbon in contact with a portion of the periphery of an inking roller for applying ink to the ribbon member, an ink transfer roller movable into and out of contact with said inking roller and an ink transfer means which is arranged to transfer ink to said transfer roller from an ink reservoir when said transfer roller is in contact therewith, and transfer roller control mechanism arranged to move said transfer roller both into contact with said ink transfer means and therefrom to contact with said inking roller during one portion of each cycle of operation of the particular business machine being employed, said transfer roller being arranged to rotate in contact with the inking roller during another portion of each machine cycle of operation so as to transfer ink to the inking roller from said ink transfer means, said transfer roller being grooved longitudinally for facilitating equal distribution of the ink thereby transferred from the transfer means along the inking roller, and the inking roller also being arranged to rotate during said another portion of each machine cycle of operation so as to transfer, in turn, ink from the inking roller onto the ribbon.
  • an endless inked ribbon 11 is supported on a framework comprising a support plate 12 removably attached to a frame plate 13 of the business machine.
  • the ribbon 11 is guided around the periphery of a feeding and inking roller 14, composed of a suitable material, such as hard felt, said roller 14 being rotatably mounted on a stud 15 secured in the plate 12, and being rotated clockwise (with reference to FIG. 1) during the first half-cycle of each machine operation by suitable mechanism (not shown) engaging an end portion 16 (FIG. 2) of the roller 14 when the plate 12 is correctly positioned in the machine.
  • a pressure roller 17, formed of the same material as the inking roller 14, is supported between the side arms 18a (FIGS.
  • a yoke member 18 rotatably mounted on a stud 20 secured in the support plate 12, the yoke member 18 being normally urged clockwise (with reference to FIG. 1) by means of a spring 21 to maintain the ribbon 11, passing between the roller 17 and the roller 14, in firm contact with the latter roller 14.
  • a downward extension 18b is provided near the right-hand end of the yoke member 18 (FIG. 2) for the purpose to be explained hereinafter.
  • Ink is administered to the ribbon II to maintain it in that print-producing condition providing for distinct and welldefined impressions to be made upon a record material (not shown) by said ribbon 11 when appropriate type-carrying members (also notshown) strike the record material and press the ribbon 11 against an adjacent platen (again not shown).
  • the ink is supplied to the inking roller 14 by means of a pair of transfer rollers 28 axially aligned and rotatably mounted on a rod 29 extending between the side arms of still a further yoke 30 rotatably mounted on the stud 20, the yoke 30 being urged counterclockwise (with reference to FIG. I) by an associated torsion spring 31 wrapped around a stud 32 likewise carried by the framework support plate 12 (FIG. 2).
  • Each roller 28 of the pair of transfer rollers 28 is normally out of contact with the upper end of a respective one of a pair of wicks 33, which extend downwardly into the interior of a removable ink reservoir 34 mounted on a bracket 54 secured to the frame plate 13.
  • the transfer rollers 28 are preferably made of metal and, as shown in FIG. 1, are provided on their peripheries with a plurality of closely spaced grooves or serrations extending along the whole length thereof in a direction parallel to their longitudinal axes (see also FIG. 2).
  • rollers 28 and the associated wicks 33 are preferably in the pairs as so described, it is axiomatic that single ones of either of such members-i.e., one wick 33 for either one or two rollers 28 or one roller 28 for either one or two wicks 33may replace the preferred arrangement with equally successful results as different printing and/or space requirements are caused to arise. That is, while double rollers 28 and wicks 33 are herein illustrated for the present disclosure, one only of either or each might be otherwise incorporated as a most effective means for accomplishing the noted ink-transferring operation intended.
  • the left-hand arm of the yoke 30 is provided with a notch 30a engaging a stud 35 of a control lever 36, which is rotatably mounted on the support plate stud 15 and which has a further stud 37 extending through an aperture 120 in the machine framework support plate 12.
  • the right side edge of the notch 30a is appropriately sloped so as to form a camming surface with respect to the stud 35, all for the reason to be clearly understood from the operational description presented later herein.
  • a link 38 extends between the stud 37 of the control lever 36 and a companion stud 39 secured in one side arm 18a of the yoke 18, such stud 39 passing also freely through an aperture, such as 120, in the support plate 12.
  • a cam arm 44 pivotally mounted on a fixed shaft 43, is arranged to present its lower end in position to be contacted by a stud 42 on the drive plate 41 during the second half of each cycle of rotation of the machine main shaft 40, to in turn cause a stud on the upper end of the cam arm 44 to actuate the downward extensions 18b and 24a of the yokes 18 and 24 and therethrough rock said yokes l8 and 24 counterclockwise a precise extent during such time of each operation of the business machine.
  • FIG. 3 A cam arm 44, pivotally mounted on a fixed shaft 43, is arranged to present its lower end in position to be contacted by a stud 42 on the drive plate 41 during the second half of each cycle of rotation of the machine main shaft 40, to in turn cause a stud on the upper end of the cam arm 44 to actuate the downward extensions 18b and 24a of the yokes 18 and 24 and therethrough rock said yokes l8 and 24 counterclockwise a precise extent during such time of each operation of the business
  • Clockwise movement of the yoke 30 disengages the ink transfer rollers 28 from contact with the inking roller 14 and moves said rollers 28 downwardly and into contact with the wicks 33 of the ink reservoir 34 to receive, on each roller 28, a predetermined amount of ink in the form of a wick end producing spot of ink thereon, such ink spot on each roller 28 spreading along its grooves to insure even distribution of the ink therealong.
  • Each machine operation is thus seen to provide, during the second half-cycle thereof, a shifting of the ink transfer rollers 28 from their normal, inking-roller-l4-contacting position during the ribbonadvancing first half-cycle thereof to the ink-wick-33-contacting position for receipt of the specified amount of ink therefrom and thence immediately back to the roller-14-contacting position in preparation for the transfer of such ink amount along the peripheral surface of the roller 14 and onto the ribbon 11 during the first half-cycle of the next machine operation.
  • a ribbon-inking device for use in a business machine printer mechanism of the type including an ink ribbon in contact with a peripheral portion of an inking roller for applying ink to the ribbon, comprising an ink supply means spaced from said inking roller;
  • a yoke rockably supported from the machine and having a cam surface thereon;
  • an ink transfer roller journaled on the yoke and movable along a path into and out of individual contact with each of said inking roller and said ink supply means;
  • control mechanism including a lever rockably supported from the machine and carrying follower means engageable with the cam surface;
  • an inking mechanism for said ribbon comprising an ink supply means spaced from said feeding and inking roller;
  • an ink transfer roller journaled on the yoke and positioned for shifting movement along a path between said. ink supply means and said feeding and inking roller;
  • control mechanism including a lever member having thereon a follower stud engageable with the recessed cam means and normally positioned for permitting contact of the transfer roller with the feeding and inking roller and movable to a cam-engageable position for moving said transfer roller out of contact with said feeding and inking roller and into contact with said ink supply means during a further cycling time-of each operation of the business machine, and disengageable from the cam means to move said transfer roller out of contact with said ink supply means and into contact with said feeding and inking roJier during still a further cycling time of each operation of the business machine; and
  • said ink supply means including a wick member extending to present a predetermined amount of ink on said transfer roller when contacted therewith during said further cycling time, and
  • said transfer roller including a surface for friction rotation with said driven feeding and inking roller during said one cycling time for transferring the supply-means-presented amount of ink therefrom to such feeding and inking roller and therefrom onto the advancing ribbon thereby.

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Abstract

An ink-metering roll regularly shifted during each cycle of a business machine from an associated ribbon-inking roll to an associated ink supply and thence back to said inking roll for transferring a predetermined amount of ink from such supply to a printing mechanism ribbon associated for advancement with the rotation of said inking roll. In the preferred form, the ink supply is arranged for dispensing a precise amount of ink to several peripheral zones on said metering roll when moved thereagainst, the metering roll is arranged for friction rotation with the inking roll during machine cycling, and the metering roll is longitudinally grooved for distributing the ink so dispensed thereon equally therealong and onto said ribbon-inking roll during the time of rotation thereof.

Description

United States Patent I 1 i 1 i 1 Inventor Andre A. Lottiau Vilvorde, Belgium Appl, No. 749,200 Filed July 31,1968 Patented June 1, 1971 Assignee The National Cash Register Company Dayton, Ohio Priority Dec. 12, 1967 Great Britain 56334/67 BUSINESS MACHINE PRINTER RIBBON AUTOMATIC INKING DEVICE 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.
8/1919 Hiltz Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino At!0rneysL0uiS A. Kline and Wilbert Hawk, Jr.
ABSTRACT: An ink-metering roll regularly shifted during each cycle of a business machine from an associated ribboninking roll to an associated ink supply and thence back to said inking roll for transferring a predetermined amount of ink from such supply to a printing mechanism ribbon associated for advancement with the rotation of said inking roll. In the preferred form, the ink supply is arranged for dispensing a precise amount of ink to several peripheral zones on said metering roll when moved thereagainst, the metering roll is arranged for friction rotation with the inking roll during machine cycling, and the metering roll is longitudinally grooved for distributing the ink so dispensed thereon equally therealong and onto said ribbon-inking roll during the time of rotation thereof.
PATENTED Jun nan INVENTOR ANDRE F. A. LOTTIAU HIS ATTORNEYS EUSINESS MACHINE PRINTER RIBBON AUTOMATIC INKING DEVICE With cash registers and other business machines becoming common means for preparing printed records to be used as optically read input media for electronic computers, it is of course extremely important that the quality of data printed thereby be such that the data is clearly readable by an optical reader and that such quality of the print be continually maintained even after a long period of use of the particular machine being so employed. In this regard, and considering such machines making use of ink ribbons in their printer mechanisms, either ribbon change on a regular schedule of machine operations completed or ribbon re-inking by some means during machine operation must be considered as prerequisite to the maintenance of a high print quality with extended machine usage-say, for example, when approaching a record media production of something in excess of 100,000 printed lines. The latter alternative, of ribbon reinking, is of course a most delicate task, as too much or too little ink presented to the ribbon at anyone time results in a print laydown totally unacceptable for optical character recognition purposes. ltis thus to the end of providing improvements in ribbon-inking means that the instant invention is directed.
While many of the known ribbon-inking devices are highly successful and quite adequate for their intended purposes, the criticalness associated with print quality for use with optical readers is found in practice to show that such devices, after a relatively short period of use, cease to maintain that inked-ribbon condition essential to providing a sufficiently clear and optically readable printed record. While a popular type of inking device is one which is continually effective for providing a steady flow of ink to the ribbon member in question, such for example, as the ribbon-inking machine disclosed in US. Pat. No. 1,486,674, issued Mar. 11, 1924, on the application of Frederick George Meyer, which employs an arrangement of intermeshing gears for transferring a continuous ink supply to the peripheral surface of one of a pair of ribbon-engaging inking rolls, or, forfurther example, as per the US. Pats. No. 2,745,533, issued May 15, 1956, on the application of Henry W. Keleher, and No. 2,770,215, issued Nov. 13, 1956, on the application of John I. Knight, which relate to an ink supply wick for continually inking an associated ink transfer roll maintained in engagement with the machine ribbon, overinking of the ribbon is reasonably soon detected with ink bleeding around the character formations, resulting in a generally fuzzy and hence unacceptable printed record; i.e., lacking in that degree of sharpness essential to accurate optical reading. Further such devices include, as shown in US. Pat. No. 2,890,930, issued Apr. 7, 1959, on the application of Frank R. Werner et al., mechanism providing continuous engagement of an ink-metering roll with an associated ink reservoir wick member, which metering roll, as well as ink reservoir, may be further mounted for shifting movement to manually present the metering roll as so continually inked by the associated wick to or from engagement with the associated machine ribbon per se or with an intervening ink distribution roll. While some control over ribbon inking is present with such latter device-capable of being manually set for either fixed on or off operation, frequent and time-consuming attention to such type of ribbon-inking device is a must to the prevention of overinking of the ribbon in one instance and, just as bad with respect to acceptable print laydown for optical reader purposes, underinktfig of the ribbon in another instance. f
With the above discussion in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved ribbon-inking device for use in printer mechanism of business machines employed at least in part for preparing record media having optically readable data printed thereon.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a ribbon-inking device in which the disadvantages of over-inking" and under-inking, referred to above, are completely alleviated. To this end, in addition to providing for automatic operation of a ribbon-inking device at a precise point in cycling time during each business machine operation, rather than the common practice above noted of being manually set for either fixed on or off operation at any one time, contrary to the further practice so noted of providing continuous engagement between the ink-container-feeding means (wick, etc.) and its associated ink transfer means (metering roll, etc.), the present invention makes use of what might be termed a stamp pad principle of precisely timed intermittent engagement therebetween; i.e., of automatic shifting of such ink transfer means back and forth between the associated ink supply means and ribbon-engaging inking means (felt roll, etc.) for intermittent transfer of ink thereby from such supply means for to such ribbon-engaging inking means.
Still a further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an ink transfer means in the form of a serrated metering roller as opposed to heretofore-used smooth such rollers, resulting in ink distribution along and by the metering roller rather than relying solely upon the associated felt inking roll for such.
With these and incidental objects in view, the instant invcn tion includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.
Of said drawing:
FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the ribbon-inking mechanism making up the present invention as incorporated with the framework construction of a cash register or similar business machine;
FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the ribbon-inking mechanism of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of cam means regularly operated during each business machine cycle of operation for actuating the ribbon-inking mechanism thereduring, such cam means being shown in operated position.
In general, as disclosed by the drawing, the invention includes an ink ribbon in contact with a portion of the periphery of an inking roller for applying ink to the ribbon member, an ink transfer roller movable into and out of contact with said inking roller and an ink transfer means which is arranged to transfer ink to said transfer roller from an ink reservoir when said transfer roller is in contact therewith, and transfer roller control mechanism arranged to move said transfer roller both into contact with said ink transfer means and therefrom to contact with said inking roller during one portion of each cycle of operation of the particular business machine being employed, said transfer roller being arranged to rotate in contact with the inking roller during another portion of each machine cycle of operation so as to transfer ink to the inking roller from said ink transfer means, said transfer roller being grooved longitudinally for facilitating equal distribution of the ink thereby transferred from the transfer means along the inking roller, and the inking roller also being arranged to rotate during said another portion of each machine cycle of operation so as to transfer, in turn, ink from the inking roller onto the ribbon.
Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. I, an endless inked ribbon 11 is supported on a framework comprising a support plate 12 removably attached to a frame plate 13 of the business machine. The ribbon 11 is guided around the periphery of a feeding and inking roller 14, composed of a suitable material, such as hard felt, said roller 14 being rotatably mounted on a stud 15 secured in the plate 12, and being rotated clockwise (with reference to FIG. 1) during the first half-cycle of each machine operation by suitable mechanism (not shown) engaging an end portion 16 (FIG. 2) of the roller 14 when the plate 12 is correctly positioned in the machine. A pressure roller 17, formed of the same material as the inking roller 14, is supported between the side arms 18a (FIGS. 1 and 2) of a yoke member 18 rotatably mounted on a stud 20 secured in the support plate 12, the yoke member 18 being normally urged clockwise (with reference to FIG. 1) by means of a spring 21 to maintain the ribbon 11, passing between the roller 17 and the roller 14, in firm contact with the latter roller 14. A downward extension 18b is provided near the right-hand end of the yoke member 18 (FIG. 2) for the purpose to be explained hereinafter. A ribbon tension roller 23, supported between the side arms of a further yoke 24 (FIG. I), also rotatably mounted on the pIate-IZ-carried stud 20, is urged clockwise by a spring 25 extending between the yoke 24 and a stud 26 secured to a support-plate-lZ-carried extension member 27. The tension roller 23, under the influence of the spring 25, normally maintains the endless ribbon 11 in a taut condition. A downwardly and forwardly directed extension 240 of the further yoke 24 lies adjacent the yoke extension 1812 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 3), all for the purpose hereafter explained with respect to operation of the instant invention.
Ink is administered to the ribbon II to maintain it in that print-producing condition providing for distinct and welldefined impressions to be made upon a record material (not shown) by said ribbon 11 when appropriate type-carrying members (also notshown) strike the record material and press the ribbon 11 against an adjacent platen (again not shown). The ink is supplied to the inking roller 14 by means ofa pair of transfer rollers 28 axially aligned and rotatably mounted on a rod 29 extending between the side arms of still a further yoke 30 rotatably mounted on the stud 20, the yoke 30 being urged counterclockwise (with reference to FIG. I) by an associated torsion spring 31 wrapped around a stud 32 likewise carried by the framework support plate 12 (FIG. 2). Each roller 28 of the pair of transfer rollers 28 is normally out of contact with the upper end of a respective one ofa pair of wicks 33, which extend downwardly into the interior of a removable ink reservoir 34 mounted on a bracket 54 secured to the frame plate 13. The transfer rollers 28 are preferably made of metal and, as shown in FIG. 1, are provided on their peripheries with a plurality of closely spaced grooves or serrations extending along the whole length thereof in a direction parallel to their longitudinal axes (see also FIG. 2). While both such rollers 28 and the associated wicks 33 are preferably in the pairs as so described, it is axiomatic that single ones of either of such members-i.e., one wick 33 for either one or two rollers 28 or one roller 28 for either one or two wicks 33may replace the preferred arrangement with equally successful results as different printing and/or space requirements are caused to arise. That is, while double rollers 28 and wicks 33 are herein illustrated for the present disclosure, one only of either or each might be otherwise incorporated as a most effective means for accomplishing the noted ink-transferring operation intended.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, and as can be understood from FIG. 2, the left-hand arm of the yoke 30 is provided with a notch 30a engaging a stud 35 of a control lever 36, which is rotatably mounted on the support plate stud 15 and which has a further stud 37 extending through an aperture 120 in the machine framework support plate 12. The right side edge of the notch 30a, as seen in FIG. 1, is appropriately sloped so as to form a camming surface with respect to the stud 35, all for the reason to be clearly understood from the operational description presented later herein. A link 38 extends between the stud 37 of the control lever 36 and a companion stud 39 secured in one side arm 18a of the yoke 18, such stud 39 passing also freely through an aperture, such as 120, in the support plate 12.
Secured to a main shaft 40 of the business machine is a drive plate 41 (FIG. 3). A cam arm 44, pivotally mounted on a fixed shaft 43, is arranged to present its lower end in position to be contacted by a stud 42 on the drive plate 41 during the second half of each cycle of rotation of the machine main shaft 40, to in turn cause a stud on the upper end of the cam arm 44 to actuate the downward extensions 18b and 24a of the yokes 18 and 24 and therethrough rock said yokes l8 and 24 counterclockwise a precise extent during such time of each operation of the business machine. As understood from FIG. 1, counterclockwise rocking of the yoke 24 causes its supporting ribbon tension roller 23 to move upwardly and thereby slacken the tension in the ink ribbon 11. Simultaneous counterclockwise rocking of the yoke 18 disengages the pressure roller 17 from the inking roller 14. The slack in the ribbon 11 is, of course, taken up by the disengaging movement of the pressure roller 17. The rocking of the yoke 18, through the interconnected link 38, likewise rocks at such time the control lever 36 also counterclockwise, whereby its stud 35 contacts the right side edge camming surface of the notch 30a in the side arm of the yoke 30 and thereby imparts clockwise rocking to the yoke 30. Clockwise movement of the yoke 30 disengages the ink transfer rollers 28 from contact with the inking roller 14 and moves said rollers 28 downwardly and into contact with the wicks 33 of the ink reservoir 34 to receive, on each roller 28, a predetermined amount of ink in the form of a wick end producing spot of ink thereon, such ink spot on each roller 28 spreading along its grooves to insure even distribution of the ink therealong.
Upon the stud 45 of the cam arm 44 (FIG. 3) reaching a drive-plate-4l-controlled position during machine operation out of contact with the extensions 18b and 24a of the yokes 18 and 24, which happens at a time slightly prior to the end of each machine cycle of operation, their springs 21 and 25, respectively, restore such yokes 18 and 24 clockwise to their normal, or home, positions, as shown in FIG. I, where the pressure roller 17 is returned to engagement with the inking roller 14, and ribbon slack caused thereby is taken up by downward movement of the ribbon tension roller 23. Simultaneous with such restoration of the yoke 18 is the link-38- urged clockwise return to normal of the control lever 36, which again returns the stud 35 thereof into receiving position within the notch 30a and permits, under urgence of the spring 31, counterclockwise return to home of the further yoke 30, where, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the ink transfer rollers 28 thereof return again into contact with the inking roller 14. Such FIG.-1-illustrated positioning of the various yokes, rollers, and other elements making up the present invention of course remains as the machine comes to rest in its cycle of operation, with the ink transfer rollers 28 engaged with the inking roller 14 and with the pressure and tension rollers 17 and 23, respectively, positioned for maintaining the ribbon 11 taut and in condition for advancement. Through the earlier-mentioned driving mechanism operating on the end portion 16 of the roller 14 (FIG. 2), rotation of the inking roller 14 then takes place during the first half-cycle of the next succeeding machine operation to in turn advance the ribbon 11 a precise extent and cause rotation of the transfer rollers 28 for transferring the ink. so distributed thereon by the reservoir wicks 33 during such preceding machine operation onto the roller 14 and therefrom to the advancing ribbon 11. Each machine operation is thus seen to provide, during the second half-cycle thereof, a shifting of the ink transfer rollers 28 from their normal, inking-roller-l4-contacting position during the ribbonadvancing first half-cycle thereof to the ink-wick-33-contacting position for receipt of the specified amount of ink therefrom and thence immediately back to the roller-14-contacting position in preparation for the transfer of such ink amount along the peripheral surface of the roller 14 and onto the ribbon 11 during the first half-cycle of the next machine operation.
From the above description, it is apparent that a precise amount only of ink is transferred to the ribbon 11 and then only when said ribbon 11 is called into use for providing a print, thus providing a ribbon 11 which is continually available for producing prints of sufficient clarity for them to be accurately read by optical reading apparatus. Furthermore, while the form of mechanism shown and described is admirably adapted to avoid any possibility of overinking or underinking of the particular printer ribbon employed, it is clear that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and operation of such mechanism may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms and is not intended to be confined beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.
What I claim is:
l. A ribbon-inking device for use in a business machine printer mechanism of the type including an ink ribbon in contact with a peripheral portion of an inking roller for applying ink to the ribbon, comprising an ink supply means spaced from said inking roller;
a yoke rockably supported from the machine and having a cam surface thereon;
an ink transfer roller journaled on the yoke and movable along a path into and out of individual contact with each of said inking roller and said ink supply means;
means for resiliently urging said transfer roller into contact with the inking roller;
control mechanism including a lever rockably supported from the machine and carrying follower means engageable with the cam surface;
means for rocking the lever-carrying follower means from a first position of adjustment, permitting contact of the transfer roller-with the inking roller, to a second position of adjustment into engagement with the cam surface, thereby camming such transfer roller out of contact with the inking roller to move said transfer roller into contact with said ink supply means for transferring ink thereto 'from said supply means during one portion of each operation of the business machine, and thence back to said first position of adjustment upon urging of the resilient means to disengage the follower means from the cam surface, permitting movement of said transfer roller out of. contact with said supply means and into contact with said inking roller for transferring ink thereto from said transfer roller prior to a further portion of each operation of the business machine; and
means driving said inking roller to rotate said transfer roller by frictional contact therewith during said further portion of each operation of the business machine so as to transfer in turn the ink supply thereto by the transfer roller therefrom and onto the ribbon.
2. In a business machine printer mechanism employing an ink ribbon in peripheral contact with an associated driven ribbon-feeding andinking roller, said feeding and inking roller 6 being rotated during one cycling time of each operation of the business machine for advancing said ink ribbon a certain extent thereduring, an inking mechanism for said ribbon comprising an ink supply means spaced from said feeding and inking roller;
a yoke rockably supported from the machine and having recessed cam means thereon;
an ink transfer roller journaled on the yoke and positioned for shifting movement along a path between said. ink supply means and said feeding and inking roller;
means normally urging said transfer roller toward contact with the feeding and inking roller in the cam-disengageable position;
control mechanism including a lever member having thereon a follower stud engageable with the recessed cam means and normally positioned for permitting contact of the transfer roller with the feeding and inking roller and movable to a cam-engageable position for moving said transfer roller out of contact with said feeding and inking roller and into contact with said ink supply means during a further cycling time-of each operation of the business machine, and disengageable from the cam means to move said transfer roller out of contact with said ink supply means and into contact with said feeding and inking roJier during still a further cycling time of each operation of the business machine; and
driving mechanism actuated during each operation of the business machine for moving said lever member to its cam engageable position at a c cling time following mldoperation of the machine and or returning said lever member back to its normal-position at a cycling time prior to termination of operation of the machine;
said ink supply means including a wick member extending to present a predetermined amount of ink on said transfer roller when contacted therewith during said further cycling time, and
said transfer roller including a surface for friction rotation with said driven feeding and inking roller during said one cycling time for transferring the supply-means-presented amount of ink therefrom to such feeding and inking roller and therefrom onto the advancing ribbon thereby.

Claims (2)

1. A ribbon-inking device for use in a business machine printer mechanism of the type including an ink ribbon in contact with a peripheral portion of an inking roller for applying ink to the ribbon, comprising an ink supply means spaced from said inking roller; a yoke rockably supported from the machine and having a cam surface thereon; an ink transfer roller journaled on the yoke and movable along a path into and out of individual contact with each of said inking roller and said ink supply means; means for resiliently urging said transfer roller into contact with the inking roller; control mechanism including a lever rockably supported from the machine and carrying follower means engageable with the cam surface; means for rocking the lever-carrying follower means from a first position of adjustment, permitting contact of the transfer roller with the inking roller, to a second position of adjustment into engagement with the cam surface, thereby camming such transfer roller out of contact with the inking roller to move said transfer roller into contact with said ink supply means for transferring ink thereto from said supply means during one portion of each operation of the business machine, and thence back to said first position of adjustment upon urging of the resilient means to disengage the follower means from the cam surface, permitting movement of said transfer roller out of contact with said supply means and into contact with said inking roller for transferring ink thereto from said transfer roller prior to a further portion of each operation of the business machine; and means driving said inking roller to rotate said transfer roller by frictional contact therewith during said further portion of each operation of the business machine so as to transfer in turn the ink supply thereto by the transfer roller therefrom and onto the ribbon.
2. In a business machine printer mechanism employing an ink ribbon in peripheral contact with an associated driven ribbon-feeding and inking roller, said feeding and inking roller being rotated during one cycling time of each operation of the business machine for advancing said ink ribbon a certain extent thereduring, an inking mechanism for said ribbon comprising an ink supply means spaced from said feeding and inking roller; a yoke rockably supported from the machine and having recessed cam means thereon; an ink transfer roller journaled on the yoke and positioned for shifting movement along a path between said ink supply means and said feeding and inking roller; means normally urging said transfer roller toward contact with the feeding and inking roller in the cam-disengageable position; control mechanism including a lever member having thereon a follower stud engageable with the recessed cam means and normally positioned for permitting contact of the transfer roller with the feeding and inking roller and movable to a cam-engageable position for moving said transfer roller out of contact with said feeding and inking roller and into contact with said ink supply means during a further cycling time of each operation of the business machine, and disengageable from the cam means to move said transfer roller out of contact with said ink supply means and into contact with said feeding and inking roller during still a further cycling time of each operation of the business machine; and driving mechanism actuated during each operation of the business machine for moving said lever member to its cam engageable position at a cycling time following midoperation of the machine and for returning said lever member back to its normal position at a cycling time prior to termination of operation of the machine; said ink supply means including a wick member extending to present a predetermined amount of ink on said transfer roller when contacted therewith during said further cycling time, and said transfer roller including a surface for friction rotation with said driven feeding and inking roller during said one cycling time for transferring the supply-means-presented amount of ink therefrom to such feeding and inking roller and therefrom onto the advancing ribbon thereby.
US749200A 1967-12-12 1968-07-31 Business machine printer ribbon automatic inking device Expired - Lifetime US3581863A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB56334/67A GB1151810A (en) 1967-12-12 1967-12-12 Ribbon Inking Device for a Business Machine.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3581863A true US3581863A (en) 1971-06-01

Family

ID=10476361

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US749200A Expired - Lifetime US3581863A (en) 1967-12-12 1968-07-31 Business machine printer ribbon automatic inking device

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US (1) US3581863A (en)
FR (1) FR1594326A (en)
GB (1) GB1151810A (en)
SE (1) SE346636B (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1313295A (en) * 1919-08-19 George s
US1961906A (en) * 1932-05-05 1934-06-05 Ross J Beatty Manifolding attachment for typewriters
US2798429A (en) * 1951-11-10 1957-07-09 Ncr Co Re-inking mechanism for cash registers
US2904160A (en) * 1958-04-30 1959-09-15 Inventors Clinic Inking device for typewriting machines
US3099344A (en) * 1962-05-02 1963-07-30 Ges Fuer Industrielle Technik Mbh Lettering machine for drawings
US3209725A (en) * 1963-02-21 1965-10-05 Burroughs Corp Ribbon re-inker including helically grooved applicator roll

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1313295A (en) * 1919-08-19 George s
US1961906A (en) * 1932-05-05 1934-06-05 Ross J Beatty Manifolding attachment for typewriters
US2798429A (en) * 1951-11-10 1957-07-09 Ncr Co Re-inking mechanism for cash registers
US2904160A (en) * 1958-04-30 1959-09-15 Inventors Clinic Inking device for typewriting machines
US3099344A (en) * 1962-05-02 1963-07-30 Ges Fuer Industrielle Technik Mbh Lettering machine for drawings
US3209725A (en) * 1963-02-21 1965-10-05 Burroughs Corp Ribbon re-inker including helically grooved applicator roll

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1594326A (en) 1970-06-01
GB1151810A (en) 1969-05-14
SE346636B (en) 1972-07-10

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